Dear Students,
My name is David Vanden Bout and, as many of you know, I am the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education in the College of Natural Sciences. Each Monday, you'll get an email like this one with a note from me (that's this part here), a Pic of the Week, news about events and things to know this week (scroll down for that), and some helpful links to our College website.
Welcome to a new academic year! I'm thrown that today isn't Labor Day (it's next week), so we have a full week of classes for everyone to get into a routine. I was going to send a list of tips to get things off to a great start, but that makes for too long of an email, doesn't it? So I'll go with just this:
Be professional. Think of yourself as a professional student. Imagine that your boss is evaluating everything you do. Be on time. Come prepared. Stay engaged. Schedule your time. Keep your schedule. Communicate effectively. Ask questions. Go beyond the minimum that is required. And, most importantly, work at it every day.
Nothing will help you more in your classes than regular work and practice. Don't wait until the first exam. Make it a regular part of your day, freshmen and seniors alike. Getting things off to a great start is the best way to ensure a strong semester, and taking a professional approach will help you develop skills that will benefit you in any chosen career path.
A couple of quick events to put on your calendar:
- For everyone (especially freshmen looking to learn more about campus), check out Party on the Plaza, this Wednesday, Aug. 31. Learn about Rec Sports along with a wide-array of student organizations.
- For our juniors and seniors: the Fall Technology and Science Career Fair is just around the corner on Sept. 20. Check out the details about this and other related events leading up to it on the CNS Career Services Events Page.
Best wishes for the coming week and year ahead,
Dr. Vanden Bout
P.S. Follow me on Twitter @StudentDeanCNS and my new Instagram Account @StudentDeanCNS.
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